Methamphetamine Dealer Convicted for Drug Conspiracy and Firearms Violations

Following a two-day trial in U.S. District Court, a jury convicted a Tulsa man of methamphetamine distribution and firearms violations, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.

The jury found Veng Xiong, 32, guilty on Tuesday of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distributing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession of a rifle and a short-barreled shotgun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of firearms.

“The jury has spoken, and Veng Xiong is guilty as charged. Veng, a felon with a history of drug dealing, was convicted of crimes associated with trafficking methamphetamine and firearms. I hope this federal conviction will get the message through to him that Oklahoma is not open for his business,” said U.S. Attorney Shores. “Sadly, meth continues to afflict far too many of our neighborhoods in Northern Oklahoma, due in no small part to dealers like Xiong. This just result is a direct reflection of excellent work of a multi-agency investigative team and two top-notch federal prosecutors, Ryan Roberts and Chris Nassar.”

During a methamphetamine trafficking investigation, Osage County Sheriff’s Deputies covertly set up a drug deal with an individual who agreed to sell thirty-three pounds of methamphetamine for $500,000.

The United States presented evidence that showed the individual entered into a conspiracy with Veng Xiong, who had been referred to him by associates as a known drug dealer. Upon their initial meeting, Xiong showed the co-conspirator a large amount of methamphetamine and four firearms. Xiong then provided the co-conspirator with two of the firearms to carry during the drug deal.

 On April 9, 2018, the parties met at a predesignated location in rural Osage County in order to exchange the methamphetamine for cash. Xiong, along with three co-conspirators, arrived in two separate vehicles. At that time, the Osage County and Osage Nation Joint Tactical Response Team conducted a takedown and arrested the four suspects, including Xiong. Upon search of the vehicles, deputies found multiple firearms, including a Glock .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, a Taurus .38 caliber special revolver, a Winchester 12 gauge shotgun with a sawed-off barrel, and a WASR-10, which is an AK-47 style 7.62x39mm semi-automatic rifle. Both the rifle and the shotgun were found in Xiong’s vehicle. Deputies discovered the handguns and more than five pounds of methamphetamine in the other car.

Xiong was also convicted on two previous occasions in Tulsa County District Court for trafficking in illegal drugs as well as convictions for possessing a firearm while in commission of a felony and for driving under the influence of alcohol.

The Osage County Sheriff’s Office; Osage Nation Tribal Police; FBI; Pawhuska Police Department; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Nassar and Ryan M. Roberts prosecuted the case.